It’s beginning to look a lot like normal life

Coronavirus has altered Christmas. But in a few countries, it looks a little like normal.

While Christians in the Americas, Europe, India, Russia and elsewhere have had to curtail their holiday celebrations due to coronavirus restrictions and widespread infections, in some parts of the world, the holiday is set to proceed a little bit more like it normally does.

With limited outbreaks, countries including Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Taiwan and Vietnam have rolled back some regulations to allow for Christmas celebrations, or already had few restrictions in place.

Vietnam has been a leader in controlling the coronavirus. On November 30, the country reported its first case of local transmission in 89 days – just 10 days short of the previous streak of 99 days, broken in July. Vietnam has strict restrictions on international travel and a robust contact tracing system.

Taiwan on Wednesday broke a streak of no recorded locally transmitted coronavirus cases for 253 days, after a pilot from New Zealand tested positive. Since December 1, face masks have been required in many public places in Taiwan – and that vigilance seems to have paid off.

In Rwanda, in response to the pandemic, the government has permitted religious groups to gather only once a week for prayer services at 50 per cent capacity. Most Christians gather on Sundays, but authorities are allowing congregations to hold services on Christmas Day as well.

‘‘Christmas, to Christians, is more than an ordinary day, and we are cognisant of that,’’ Local Government Minister Anastase Shyaka told Rwanda’s New Times. ‘‘This time, churches that are already operating will hold service on Christmas.

‘‘Like we urged church leaders during a recent meeting we had with them, they should double efforts in observing covid-19 preventive measures,’’ he said.